Me:Dating a boy?!
Girlfriend:90% of people find their spouses in college...
Girlfriend:I'm going to be part of that 10% seeing as that I am in SD
Hahaha.
London, you are beginning to win me over: Brick Lane Brasserie
I was starting to feel dispirited about the whole food scene in London, but I heard amazing things about Indian food here, so my girlfriends and I made our way to Brick Lane. It was pretty late on a Thursday night, but many of the restaurants were filled with people. My favorite part about Brick Lane is the number of restaurant promoters outside the doors doting on you for your business.
I will make a deal with you. Eight pounds for a set menu and a round of free drinks on the house, that includes starter, main course, rice, and naan… Wait, don’t go! How about two rounds of free drinks?
Yes, I like the chase, even if it’s by hardcore Indian restaurant promoters. That’s what a service industry is all about - getting someone’s business and providing the best service possible so that he or she will return again. That’s the fundamentals of service marketing. I’m glad those Indian restaurants at least got that right.
Although some of the offers were quite enticing, we headed to Brick Lane Brasserie as a safe bet. The set menu offer wasn’t quite as good as the other restaurants, but the food was great! I haven’t had Mango Lassi in a long time, so it was such a treat drinking it again.
For my starter, I ordered the Chicken Tikka, which was tandoori chicken and grilled onions served with a sweet tangy yogurt sauce. I really enjoyed the hot and sizzling flavors!
I decided to try something different to explore more of Indian cuisine, so instead of the usual saag dishes I enjoy, I ordered Lamb Kashmir - banana and lychee in a creamy coconut sauce. And I’m so glad I did! It was very different. The cream sauce tasted a lot like butternut squash, and the lychee added a nice sweetness to the dish. I always love sweet and savory combinations.
I really appreciated the food, but not so much the decor, especially the blue lighting as you can see from my photos. Sorry, I don’t like eating Indian food in a quiet nightclub. Also, my girlfriend got a glass of white wine and claimed that it tasted like nail polish remover.
Overall, though, this experience has turned my frown upside down. Maybe things are finally looking up. Can’t wait to explore more places in Brick Lane!
Bought this White Zinfandel and really digging the design of the bottle. OGIO Wines.
The Pork Medallion Series: Pork Medallion Florentine
Improvised with some spinach, tomatoes, and a red wine sauce; then, topped with some flavorful soft cheese.
Lebensmittel in Deutschland: Berlin
Besides navigating the U-bahn and S-bahn, seeing the sights, visiting museums, and participating in a demonstration, I had some really good food and some really good beer.
It was my first time truly being immersed in European culture - cigarette smoke-filled bars, real continental breakfasts, and communicating with one-word phrases. Although England is wonderful, and there are many cultural differences, the fact that I am able to communicate and understand directions or advertisements defeats the struggle to assimilate into a new culture. Simply listening to people converse in German fascinated me. The city itself was beautiful: friendly people, beautiful sites, and a certain lawlessness that allowed alcohol to be consumed openly in public. However, without further ado, here were some memorable food moments:
Continental Breakfast
I never understood why they called it a “continental” breakfast, but I realized they don’t eat meats and cheeses or jams and crackers in London for breakfast, and rather, this breakfast style is mainly popular on the European continent. My girlfriend once posed why Americans have so many choices of cereal (see her article) when Europeans mainly eat muesli and yogurt. She would have been proud of me to see how meager my choices were. But this simple breakfast really did fit my taste - the jams were particularly fresh and tasty: cherry, apricot, and plum.
Prater Garten
Prater was the epitome of an old German pub: large wooden tables and chairs with huge mugs of beer, big plates of food for a large German appetite, and of course, hearty meats like deer and Vienna beef.
Stewed Venison with Ligonberries, Braised Cabbage, and Spatzle (fried egg noodle)
And Weihenstephan beer that I really enjoyed!
Frittiersalon
A little local fast food joint that served currywursts and bratwursts. I was slightly disappointed by the food, but it was good for the prices we were paying. However, had some more good beer.
Bratwurst with Mustard
and a tasty Pilsner Urquelle to wash it down.
And of course, there were many delectable schnitzels, desserts, and pastries around the city, especially in subway stations, too. The apple strudels were particularly scrumptious.
It’s a pity I didn’t get to taste a donner kebab because I’ve heard great things, but when I go back, which I definitely will, that will be the first thing I eat!